He told Sky News' Murnaghan show: "I'm a free market economist, we operate in a free market. If these people want to come here, and work the hours they are prepared to work for the wages they are prepared to work for, then so be it.
"It's up to people to decide what they want to do. I think there are a lot of people who complain about their lot. Life is tough for everybody at times.
"I know people will look at me and 'It's alright for you' but I started off with pretty well nothing, I did a lot of menial jobs when I was young."
Primark hailed its "outstanding year" today after revealing annual profits had jumped by 44% to £514 million - contrasting the fortunes of high street rival Marks and Spencer.
Primark hailed its "outstanding year". Credit: Lewis Stickley/PA Wire
The retailer grew sales by 22% to £4.3 billion in the year to September 30 and the Associated British Foods, which owns Primark as well as leading food brands Twinings and Kingsmill, said it expected another improvement in performance in the current financial year.
The company paid tribute to Primark's buying teams after autumn/winter and spring/summer ranges sold out with little discount, while M&S struggled to kickstart its clothing sales.
Primark has expanded in the UK's major cities with the opening of a second store on London's Oxford Street and extensions to shops in Newcastle and Manchester.
They are also set to open their first store in France, which will be located in Marseille.
Marks & Spencer made progress with a strong performance in Food, International and M&S.com. Our key priority was the re-launch of Womenswear. In September we launched our first new collection with new advertising and improved store formats.
Although only in store for three weeks of the half year, our Autumn/Winter collection has been well received by customers, and we have seen some early signs of improvement.
At the same time we continued to invest in the long term transformation of the business. We are pleased with the progress made, given the high level of activity and a number of key projects launching this year.
This has led to a higher level of additional costs, which while planned for, have impacted short-term results.
Marks & Spencer's pre-tax profits dropped by 8.9% to £261.6 million during the six months up to September, with the retailer's star-studded launch of its autumn/winter clothing range hitting its figures.
Marks & Spencer's pre-tax profits dropped by 8.9%. Credit: Tim Ireland/PA Wire
The retailer also reported a ninth consecutive quarter of clothing and homeware sales being down and claimed that consumers remain reluctant to spend.
Like-for-like sales in its food business rose 3.2% in its second quarter, however, general merchandise sales dropped 1.3% between July and September.
Chief executive Marc Bolland said its revamp of womenswear was its key priority during the period, and is showing "early signs of improvement".
Marks & Spencer said that while consumer confidence appears to be improving that does not mean it translates into higher spending and added that it was cautious for the rest of the year.
A Marks and Spencer spokesperson said that it would be "inappropriate to comment" on the Daily Mail or the Mail on Sunday's editorial content and that the company had no plans to change their advertising.
Marks and Spencer said it has no plans to change Mail advertising. Credit: Nick Ansell/PA Wire
This comes as Labour activists have called on advertisers to withdraw their support for the papers over the article on Ed Miliaband's father Ralph and a Mail on Sunday journalist gaining entry to a private memorial for Mr Miliband's uncle.
Marks and Spencer Group's quarterly trading statement showed that while its like-for-like UK food sales had risen by 4%, its general merchandise trading fell by almost as much:
Group sales: +3.1%
Total UK sales: +2.6%; Food: +6.3%; General merchandise: -2.2%
Like for like UK sales: +0.6%; Food: +4.0%; General merchandise: -3.8%
M&S's quarterly growth was thanks to better than expected food sales. Credit: PA
Marks and Spencer group reported a quarterly group sales rise of 3.1% today, which it said was its strongest sales growth in the last two years.
“We delivered an excellent result in Food, with performance well ahead of the market, as customers continued to trust us for provenance and quality. We are increasingly seen as the destination shop for special occasions," said Marc Bolland, chief executive.
The coldest March in 50 years is expected to add to clothing sales woes at Marks & Spencer today when the retail giant reports its latest trading figures.
The retailer which will report figures for its final quarter to the end of March, is predicted to reveal that general merchandise sales slumped by 4.5% - with some in the City expecting a fall of 6% - as a result of its poor clothing performance.
M&S saw a slump in general merchandise sales, which fell 3.8% in the previous quarter. Credit: Press Association
But the company's food sales are expected to grow by 3% which would be a marked improvement on the 0.3% increase in food sales over its third quarter.
It is also expected to benefited from the impact of the horse meat scandal on supermarket rivals.
